'Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.'

I read once that Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk at Gethsemani, Kentucky, arose each day in darkness in order to welcome the first signs of daybreak. I recently left a retreat day in Cornwall at 4am on the first day of British Summer Time. I observed the day push back the darkness and slowly flood the sky with light. I thought of Merton and his celebration that this marked the reliability of God, forever returning to drive back the darkness.

Our faith is built upon our confidence in God. Mine has in the past been too dependent upon God’s ability to get me out of a hole. Confidence in God means holding on in the deepest darkness, confident that dawn will return. It is God alone who breaks open the day and closes it out each night. This whole creation is dependent upon God.

Some years ago I travelled to Indonesia with two friends for a conference. We stayed on and did some birdwatching. One morning we arose early in an attempt to spot a particular bird. While my friend took great care to analyse where the bird would most likely land, I took pot luck. I was rewarded. Life cannot be ordered according to our preferences. All the planning and knowledge in the world cannot remove life’s unanticipated interruptions. We are invited by God to locate our confidence in something other than circumstance. It is God who will prove as reliable as the dawn, as dependable as the evening closing out the day.

When I am lost, confused or angry, I seek to focus my attention of the reality of the fresh dawn tomorrow. I take this as a reminder of God’s faithfulness, even though my night appears to last an eternity.